This day last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of high-value notes. This is where we are a year later, purely in numbers.

Here’s what numbers say after one year of demonetisation. (Image: Reuters)

November 8, 2016. The day Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to announce the demonetisation of high-value notes from the Indian economy in a surprising nationwide televised address. “To break the grip of corruption and black money, we have decided that the 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee currency notes presently in use will no longer be legal tender from midnight tonight, that is 8th November 2016.”

“This step will strengthen the hands of the common man in the fight against corruption, black money and fake currency,” the Prime Minister said a year ago.

365 days since demonetisation, this is what the numbers say:

15.44 lakh crore banned

The ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 resulted in the invalidation of 86% of the total currency in the economy, worth 15.44 lakh crore.

99% returned

Of the 15.44 lakh crore, nearly 99% came back to the Indian banking system as against the claim made by the Prime Minister in his demonetisation speech. “The 500 and 1,000 rupee notes hoarded by anti-national and anti-social elements will become just worthless pieces of paper,” the Prime Minister had said.

100+ deaths

Although Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal had said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the government did not receive any “official report” on deaths during the course of currency exchange and withdrawals, media reports showed more than 100 people died directly or indirectly due to demonetisation.

15 lakh jobs lost

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy more than 15 lakh jobs were lost in between January and April 2017 due to demonetisation.

15.2% more tax

The government has collected Rs 4.39 lakh crore in direct taxes, up 15.2% year-on-year, during the first seven months of the current fiscal. Until June 30, 2017, for the financial year 2016-17, the government data showed, 1.26 crore new taxpayers, including return filers and non-filers making tax payments, were added to the tax base of the country.

10.7 lakh crore worth cashless transactions

According to RBI data, the total amount of cashless transactions stood at Rs 10.7 lakh crore in the month of August, down from Rs 13.3 lakh crore worth of transactions in March. Albeit, slightly more than pre-demonetisation era.

1,152 I-T searches

Post demonetisation till August, the Income Tax department conducted 1,1152 searches which were up 158% from 447 searches earlier.

13,920 crore undisclosed income

Of the 15.44 lakh crore banned notes, Rs 13,920 crore income was detected as undisclosed income.

3.09 lakh disqualified

3.09 lakh directors associated with shell companies have been disqualified.

35,000 deregistered

The government deregistered 35,000 companies which had made cash deposits worth over Rs 17,000 crore post demonetisation and later withdrawn it.

2.24 lakh struck off

The government struck off 2.24 lakh companies from official records that had been inactive for longer than two years.

100% increase in printing cost

The cost of printing notes doubled to Rs 7,965 crore in the financial year 2016-2017 from Rs 3,421 crore in the financial year 2015-2016 on account of printing of new currencies post note-ban.

0.0002% fake currency

“Enemies from across the border run their operations using fake currency notes,” Narendra Modi had said. But it turned out only Rs 43 crore, 0.0002% of the total demonetised currency was detected as fake.

17,426 crore paid by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India paid Rs 17,426 crore to the government as liquidity in the banking system increased due to demonetisation.

74% big notes

The RBI data showed that demonetisation, whose in-principle aim was to flush out big currency notes, withdrew 86% of old high-denomination notes and infused 74% of new high denomination notes.

No information

The only number that is not available is that how much black money was recovered from the demonetisation exercise. In September, the RBI said it had “no information” on how much black money was recovered or destroyed due to demonetisation. The government, however, claims that due to more cashless transactions, there would be lesser tax evasion, which will help curb black money in the country.

The havens of black money still untouched are: traders in waste and they deal todate only in cash and cash. It runs into billions. Doctors doing private practice never give receipt for consulting charges. They run into billions and unaccounted. Lawyers charging hefty fees are out of net and ARun Jaitley and Chidambaram are lawyers. For single appearance for a shortwhile in High Court they charge lakh of rupees and yet don't take cheques. Thousands of retail dealers in hardware are yet to sign in for GST and they are not used to give receipts to their customers!! Why are state and union governments lenient to them?

Reply

M

manish

Nov 7, 2017 at 11:25 pm

one of the worst pm of the country only knows how to make decent speeches and make world tours but not capable of running a country

Reply

R

rohan

Nov 7, 2017 at 7:41 pm

100 increase in printing cost
0.0002 fake currency
No information
The only number that is not available is that how much black money was recovered from the demonetisation exercise. In September, the RBI said it had “no information” on how much black money was recovered or destroyed due to demonetisation. The government, however, claims that due to more cashless transactions, there would be lesser tax evasion, which will help curb black money in the country.

Reply

R

rohan

Nov 7, 2017 at 7:38 pm

According to RBI data, the total amount of cashless transactions stood at Rs 10.7 lakh crore albeit, SLIGHTLY more than pre-demonetisation era.

99 returned: The reaming 1 was only black money, which included , the notes carried by NRI’s for use on their return journey and notes hidden by old people in their pillow cover, e.t.c.!

Reply

R

rohan

Nov 7, 2017 at 7:10 pm

Narendra Modi chose to announce the demonetisation of high-value notes from the Indian economy ! For Modi, Rs.2000.00 note is low value !

Reply

R

rohan

Nov 7, 2017 at 7:08 pm

“Enemies from across the border run their operations using fake currency notes,” Narendra Modi had said. But it turned out only Rs 43 crore, 0.0002 of the total demonetised currency was detected as fake. A BJP worker in Kerala was found printing and selling Rs.2000.00 notes !